The Ford Barn

acenewman · 06-18-2012, 09:04 AM

How do you tell an origional from a reproduction? Any dead give aways??

Were there originals that were not plated? Perhaps on comercial vehicles??

Found what's proported to be an origional surround over the weekend for a price that I am willing to pay. Not sure if it's origional or not? Doesn't look like it was ever plated, just painted. Fairly solid with some pitting but no holes.

Ulitimately I am looking for something I can replate and put on a 29 Tudor. Should I pass and look for an origional that was plated?

Thanks, Chris

FL&WVMIKE · 06-18-2012, 12:28 PM

acenewman ..................
If it looks like it was NEVER plated, it is, probably a pick-up radiator shell and an original one. It will fit your car perfectly. Wether or not, if it was plated before, should have no bearing on a new plating job. The condition is the key !
MIKE

Richard Wilson · 06-18-2012, 12:36 PM

Piting is an expensive word when talking about re-plating.

700rpm · 06-18-2012, 12:40 PM

Measure the headlight wiring hole. If it's 1", it is an original, possibly 29, but could also be a late 28. If the surround emboss around the crank hole is round, it's a 28. If it's bell shaped, it's a 29. The current repros are 28s, sorta kinda, with a round surround, and are chrome plated. Get a price on plating before you buy one of these; plating has gotten very expensive, at least in my neighborhood.

glenn in camino · 06-18-2012, 07:42 PM

Did any of the repos ever have the bell shaped crank hole area? I have one that looks too good to be a repo.

Tom Wesenberg · 06-18-2012, 09:11 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by glenn in camino

Did any of the repos ever have the bell shaped crank hole area? I have one that looks too good to be a repo.

In the early 90's someone from Iowa had a bell shaped repro as well as the round repro shells for sale. I believe he went out of business shortly after that, and I haven't seen the bell shape offered again.

Tom Wesenberg · 06-18-2012, 09:58 PM

I'll start a new thread showing the difference between an original and repro 29 shell. A new thread might make it easier to find the next time this question comes up, since it seems to come up a couple times each year.

Tudortomnz · 06-19-2012, 01:39 AM

The originals have a tendency to split at the bottom, possibly due to flexing when hand cranking. If you find an original with v.good metal, even needing replating, grab it.
Nearly all the '29 Canadian cars Ive seen here in NZ do not have the ''bell'' around crank hole; I believe Canada did not issue this type.
It would be interesting to know whether any late '29's were chrome plated. Ive seen chrome finish for ' 29 hubcaps & lamps in Parts Bk, but they may have been for service only?

acenewman · 06-19-2012, 07:28 AM

Thanks for all the info, just the kind of details I was looking for. Sounds like I was looking at a 29 comercial piece over the weekend. Thanks,

06-18-2012, 09:04 AM	#1
acenewman Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 54	28-29 radiator surround questions How do you tell an origional from a reproduction? Any dead give aways?? Were there originals that were not plated? Perhaps on comercial vehicles?? Found what's proported to be an origional surround over the weekend for a price that I am willing to pay. Not sure if it's origional or not? Doesn't look like it was ever plated, just painted. Fairly solid with some pitting but no holes. Ulitimately I am looking for something I can replate and put on a 29 Tudor. Should I pass and look for an origional that was plated? Thanks, Chris __________________ Chris Newman "The sooner you get behind, the longer you have to catch up!"

06-18-2012, 12:28 PM	#2
FL&WVMIKE Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Daytona Beach, Fl & Spencer, W. Va, Posts: 4,442	Re: 28-29 radiator surround questions acenewman .................. If it looks like it was NEVER plated, it is, probably a pick-up radiator shell and an original one. It will fit your car perfectly. Wether or not, if it was plated before, should have no bearing on a new plating job. The condition is the key ! MIKE

06-18-2012, 12:36 PM	#3
Richard Wilson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NC Posts: 908	Re: 28-29 radiator surround questions Piting is an expensive word when talking about re-plating.

06-18-2012, 12:40 PM	#4
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,906	Re: 28-29 radiator surround questions Measure the headlight wiring hole. If it's 1", it is an original, possibly 29, but could also be a late 28. If the surround emboss around the crank hole is round, it's a 28. If it's bell shaped, it's a 29. The current repros are 28s, sorta kinda, with a round surround, and are chrome plated. Get a price on plating before you buy one of these; plating has gotten very expensive, at least in my neighborhood. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

06-18-2012, 07:42 PM	#5
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: 28-29 radiator surround questions Did any of the repos ever have the bell shaped crank hole area? I have one that looks too good to be a repo.

06-18-2012, 09:58 PM	#7
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: 28-29 radiator surround questions I'll start a new thread showing the difference between an original and repro 29 shell. A new thread might make it easier to find the next time this question comes up, since it seems to come up a couple times each year.

06-19-2012, 01:39 AM	#8
Tudortomnz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canterbury, New Zealand Posts: 1,242	Re: 28-29 radiator surround questions The originals have a tendency to split at the bottom, possibly due to flexing when hand cranking. If you find an original with v.good metal, even needing replating, grab it. Nearly all the '29 Canadian cars Ive seen here in NZ do not have the ''bell'' around crank hole; I believe Canada did not issue this type. It would be interesting to know whether any late '29's were chrome plated. Ive seen chrome finish for ' 29 hubcaps & lamps in Parts Bk, but they may have been for service only?

06-19-2012, 07:28 AM	#9
acenewman Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 54	Re: 28-29 radiator surround questions Thanks for all the info, just the kind of details I was looking for. Sounds like I was looking at a 29 comercial piece over the weekend. Thanks, __________________ Chris Newman "The sooner you get behind, the longer you have to catch up!"